August 19, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and Representative Cynthia Lummis all R-Wyo., wrote Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell, requesting an exemption for Wyoming and other states currently regulating hydraulic fracturing from the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final rule on hydraulic fracturing.

In their letter, the delegation explains how BLM’s proposed fracking rule is duplicative and will significantly delay and discourage oil and gas permitting and production on our nation’s public lands. They explain that Secretary Jewell has been unable to say that states currently regulating hydraulic fracturing are not doing a sufficient job.

“In conclusion, we believe that states are best positioned to regulate hydraulic fracturing. We appreciate your acknowledgment that Wyoming has ‘great, sophisticated’ hydraulic fracturing regulations and is ‘a good example of a state that is doing an effective job.’ We therefore request that you exempt Wyoming and the other states currently regulating hydraulic fracturing from BLM’s final rule. State regulations are a solution that is working for the people of our nation’s public land states. They should be supported, not supplanted, by the Administration,” the Wyoming delegation wrote.

On June 6th, 2013, in response to a question from Senator Barrasso at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Secretary Jewell stated that Wyoming is “a good example of a state doing an effective job” regulating hydraulic fracturing.

On July 17th, 2013, in response to a question from Representative Lummis at a House Natural Resources Committee hearing, Secretary Jewell stated that Wyoming has “great, sophisticated” hydraulic fracturing regulations.

The public comment period for BLM’s hydraulic fracturing rule closes on Friday, August 23rd.